Pets should be allowed in social housing, says O’Connell

Fine Gael TD Maeve O’Connell has said that pets should be allowed in social housing.

The Dublin Rathdown TD said that the Minister for Housing needs to expedite the work needed to lift the ban on pets in social and approved housing body (AHB) housing.

O’Connell said that the government’s commitment to ending the ban must now be followed through with “urgency”, restating her call for the Working Group examining the issue to conclude its work without delay.

“Last November, the government rightly committed to lifting the ban on pets in social housing. A Working Group was set up to look at how the chance can be implemented, whose work was due to be finished in 2026,” she explained.

“I understand this group has met several times and are making progress, but we must keep the focus on the issue. Families and pet owners can’t face any delays,” she said.

O’Connell says she has been contacted by a significant number of families in recent months, some of whom had to give up a pet to move into a social home.

“This has highlighted to me just how important this issue is to hundreds of families across Ireland. This is not a choice anyone should have to make.”

She acknowledged the number of AHBs which have already lifted the ban of their own accord, but said many others are still waiting on guidance.

O’Connell concluded by saying, “it is important we ensure they are provided with robust guidelines as soon as possible so they can confidently take action too.”